#TFReflections – Berlin (Christmas time)

21st December 2017

Berlin

Urban Nation, see below

Coming up to Christmas is a good time to visit  Germany’s capital city, Berlin. There is lots happening, and an endless supply of things to see and do. But, as ever when you are this far East in Europe, it’s time to don those winter woollies as it is a bracingly cold time of year.

Berlin can have up to 100 Christmas markets to choose from and the one that perhaps crowns them all is the one at the Gendarmenmarkt, not far from the Brandenburg Gate. Live entertainment, fabulous and unique stalls (how about beautiful jewellery made from ancient mammoth tusks?) and Glühwein to satisfy the coldest of visitors. It’s 1 Euro to enter.

Gendarmenmarkt

Walking up from the Brandenburg Gate the trees are beautifully decorated with light, with Alexanderplatz TV Tower in the distance, where there is a Big Wheel at that particular Christmas Market.

Down from Potsdamerplatz, on Leipzigerplatz is the Mall of Berlin, billed as the perfect shopping experience. It is decked out in very fine marble and will rival any mall across the world. Pop in for a cake and coffee experience at Cafe Einstein (one of many franchises across the city) and admire the eclectic Christmas decorations.

Mall of Berlin

And one of the highlights of any visit – not all that far from the most wonderful department store KaDeWe is “Urban Nation” at Bülowstraße 7, run by a charitable trust, entry is free and the larger than life art is amazing. An absolute must-see permanent art show!

And what did we read when we visited Berlin? A book that was thought provoking for our times. “Go Went Gone” by Jenny Erpenbeck, set in the city.

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